On August 31, the XI General Assembly of the World Council of Churches began in Karlsruhe, Germany. Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia was appointed a member of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church by the decision of the Holy Synod.

During the Assembly, the topics of Christian solidarity and mutual assistance in the face of persecution of Christians in various regions of the world, situations related to the position of Christians in the Holy Land, and the topics of peaceful coexistence in Europe are discussed. The problems of economic and social injustice in modern society, racism and xenophobia, violations of human rights also will be raised. In addition, it is planned to touch upon issues related to the field of ecology. The forum participants will also consider topics related to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic during their discussions.

In total, more than two thousand delegates from different countries and continents take part in the work of the XI General Assembly of the World Council of Churches. The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Assembly is headed by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church do not take part in ecumenical prayer services, but are actively participating in working on the preparation of the final document of the Assembly.

On September 5, as part of the Assembly, Metropolitan Sergiy met with the Secretary General of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, Reverend Jonatan Jesudas. The meeting was held in a warm atmosphere. The parties discussed the prospects for further cooperation.

On August 17, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia visited the parish of Ven. Moses Murin in Sorong. Upon arrival, Metropolitan Sergiy performed a prayer singing and tonsured parishioners Mark and Nectarios as readers.

Vladyka also presented a gift to the parish – church utensils and then continued his communication with the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On August 18, Metropolitan Sergiy met with the mayor of the city, Lambertus Jitmau, and then with the head of the Council of Regional People’s Representatives of Sorong County, Abel Yadanfle. During the meetings, issues related to cooperation were discussed.

On August 21, on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of St. Nicholay the Wonderworker in Jayapura, West Papua Province, Indonesia.

His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the church: the dean, Priest Chrysostomos Gasperz and Priest Vladimir Vorumi.

The day before, Metropolitan Sergiy celebrated the All-Night Vigil and the ordination of parishioner Ignatius as a reader. At the Divine Liturgy, Vladyka performed ordination of the parishioner Frumenty as a reader.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Sergiy congratulated the faithful on the feast and addressed them with an archpastoral word.

On the same day, Metropolitan Sergiy performed a memorial service (litiya) at the grave of Priest Athanasius Muzendi, dean of the Church of St. Athanasius the Great in West Papua Province, Indonesia.

Father Athanasius was the dean of the church from 2009 to 2018, and during his service he won the love and respect of the parishioners.

On July 20, on the eve of the celebration of the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan (1579), His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated an all-night vigil at the Theophany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, Moscow.

His Holiness was co-served by: Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia; Bishop Foma of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, Dean of the Cathedral of the Theophany; Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the city of Moscow, Dean of the Central District of the Moscow Diocese; Archimandrite Alexy (Turikov), personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Archpriest Sergiy Tocheny, Dean of the Theophany District; and clergy of Moscow. His Holiness was also co-served by the clerics of the Diocese of Singapore of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia: Hieromonk Kirill (Situmeang), Hierodeacon Yuvenaly (Marushchak), Hierodeacon Methodiy (Sugiarto).

Praying at the service were also Indonesian students of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and the Moscow Theological Academy: Moses Marukhal Satria, Gerasim Shakti and Sergei Simanzhuntak.

After the service, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had a conversation with Metropolitan Sergiy, clerics and students from Indonesia. His Holiness the Patriarch gave his First-Hierarchal Blessing to the students and wished God’s help to the Indonesian clergy in their forthcoming labours.